Flatware sorter



June 25, 1968 NASLUND ET AL 3,389,791

FLATWARE SORTER Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 5 SheetsSheet l INVENTORS ERIK NASLUND, FRANK S. CHYTIL,

ATTORNEY June 25, 1968 E. NASLUF/JD ET AL FLATWAR E SORTER M 1 D mu NU L m MN m R E FRANK S. GHYTI L,

ATTORNEY June 25, 1968 NASLUND ET AL FLATWARE S ORT ER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 27, 1964 INVENTORS ERIK NAS LU FRANK S. OH

United States Patent Oflice 3,389,791 Patented June 25, 1968 3,389,791 FLATWARE SORTER Erik Naslund and Frank S. Chytil, Santa Clara, Calif.,

assignors to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Deiaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 414,339, Nov. 27, 1964. This application July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,321 15 Claims. (Cl. 209-99) This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 414,339, filed Nov. 27, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a device for sorting articles, and more particularly, for sorting flatware, such as, tablespoons, teaspoons, forks and knives according to their size, namely, width and breadth into bins with all of their handles being aligned in the same direction.

One of the problems in handling large quantities of flatware, for example, in large restaurants or aboard ships, is the difficulty of sorting the flatware after it has been washed.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide an improved device for sorting flatware.

Another object is to provide a device which segregates a random assortment of flatware into a plurality of containers according to size, wherein the handles of the flatware are all aligned in the same direction.

The invention accomplishes these objects by taking advantage of the fact that the commonly used flatware, such as soup spoons, teaspoons, forks and knives are of decreasing width and breadth, respectively. Thus, by passing the flatware through a series of restrictions, each smaller than the one preceding it, the larger flatware can e removed while passing smaller flatware to the next smaller restriction, and so on until only the smallest flatware remain. This procedure is carried out by providing a rotary drum inclined at an angle with respect to the horizontal and having a series of segments of decreasing diameters becoming smaller toward the lower end of the drum. The drum is also provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves each having a stepped side wall. A cylindrical cover, which also has a series of panels of reduced diameters becoming smaller toward the lower end of the drum, circumscribes the drum and retains articles slidably admitted into the grooves at the upper end of the drum within the grooves. The articles are intercepted, by the stepped wall of the grooves or by the panels of reduced diameter, according to their widths, and the segregated articles are discharged into collecting and aligning apparatus through ports in the bottoms of the panels beneath the drum.

A better understanding of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the invention that follows, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a sorting device in accordance with the invention, with an intermediate portion of the drum broken away, and with other parts in sections.

FIGURE 2 is a plan of a portion of the device, again with parts broken away.

FIGURE 2a is a diagrammatic section used solely for the purpose of showing the locations at which the sections 8, 9, and 11 were taken.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1 and showing a container in position for receiving flatware.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and showing a container in position for receiving the flatware.

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 1 also showing a container in position for receiving the flatware.

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURE 4 but shows a portion of modified collecting apparatus for guiding the tableware to a container.

FIGURE 7 is a section shown with parts broken away taken along the lines 77 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the lines 88 of FIGURE 2a, and between the lines 88 of FIGURE 2, showing diagrammatically a plurality of soup spoons in intercepted positions.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the lines 99 of FIGURE 2a, and between the lines 99 of FIGURE 2, showing diagrammatically a plurality of teaspoons in intercepted positions.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the lines 10-10 of FIGURE 2a, and between the lines 1010 of FIGURE 2, showing diagrammatically a plurality of forks in intercepted positions.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally along the lines 1111 of FIGURE 2a, and between the lines 11-11 of FIGURE 2, showing diagrammatically a plurality of knives in intercepted positions.

In general, as shown in FIGURE 1, the sorter comprises a frame 20 having mounted thereon flatware supplying apparatus 22, sorting apparatus 24 and collecting and orienting apparatus 26.

The supplying apparatus 22, which is best shown in IGURES 1 and 2, comprises an endless feed belt 30 trained about an idler roller, not shown, and a drive roller 32 keyed on a shaft 34 journalled on the frame 20, in any suitable manner. A drive sprocket 36 (FIG. 2) is keyed on the shaft 34 and is connected by way of a chain 38 to a motor, not shown. The feed belt 30 is of a width slightly greater than the articles to be sorted, such as, soup spoons S, teaspoons T, forks F, and knives K. A pair of spaced side walls 40 and 42 enclose the top run of the belt 30 in a manner such that the flatware which is introduced at the inlet end of the belt (not shown), is carried by the upper run of the belt 30 between the spaced side walls 40 and 42 in a substantially single row. The side walls 40 and 42 extend beyond the discharge end of the belt 30 and project downwardly toward the sorting apparatus 24 where they are connected to a bottom wall 44.

The sorting apparatus 24, which is best shown in FIG- URES 1 and 8-11, comprises a drum having a pair of stub shafts 52 and 54 fixed at either end thereof along its longitudinal axis by any suitable means, such as, welding. The shafts 52 and 54 are journalled in a pair of upper and lower bearing blocks 56 and 53, respectively, fixed on a pair of vertical supports which are a part of the frame 20 (FIG. 1). The upper bearing block 56 is somewhat higher than the lower bearing block 58 such that the drum 50 is inclined with its longitudinal axis at an angle with respect to the horizontal.

The drum 50 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves 60, each having an inner wall 62 and spaced side walls 64 and 66 (FIG. 8). An end plate 68 (FIGS. 1 and 11) is provided at the lower end of the drum 50 for closing the ends of the grooves 60. Since all of the grooves 60 are identical, only one will be hereinafter described. One of the side walls 64 of the groove 60, the wall opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum, is stepped inwardly as at 72 (FIG. 8), 73 (FIG. 9) and 74 (FIG. 10), in the direction of the opposite side wall 66 and at different locations along the length of the groove. The steps 72, 73 and 74 are such that the side walls 64 and 66 become more closely spaced, progressing from the upper end of the drum 50 toward the lower end (FIG. 1); consequently, flatware which is of a width greater than the spacing between the side walls 64 and 66 at any particular step along the length of the groove 60, will be precluded from passing therebetween. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, should a soup spoon S be admitted at the top end of the groove 60 it will slide downwardly on the inner wall 62 and between the sidewalls 64 and 66 and will come to rest with its wider bowl portion in abutting relationship with the inwardly directed step 72 of the side wall 64. The outside diameter of the drum 50 also becomes reduced into segments at longitudinally spaced chamfers 79 and 81 along the length of the drum, with the chamfer 81 being located at step 74 (FIG. 10). Consequently, the groove 60 not only becomes narrower along the length of the drum, it also becomes shallower.

The drive for the drum 50, is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, and comprises a sprocket 82 (FIG. 7) keyed on the upper shaft 52 and a chain 83 trained around the sprocket 82 and around a lower sprocket 84a keyed on a rotary shaft 84b of a motor 84. The chain 83 is also trained over a sprocket 86 keyed on a main drive shaft 88, to be later described.

A cover or retaining element 90 for preventing the flatware from leaving the grooves inadvertently, circumscribes the drum 50, closely confronting the outer surface thereof (FIG. 1). Although, the retaining element 90 is shown as a segmented cylindrical cover, it should be understood that it is only necessary to have the retaining element cover the exposed grooves on the drum during the interval of rotation of the drum wherein there are pieces of flatware in the grooves and not during the interval of rotation wherein the grooves are empty.

The cover 90 has longitudinally spaced panels 91, 93 and 95 with the panels 93 and 95 being of reduced diameters. Thus as the grooves 60 on the drum become shallower, the cover 90 maintains its closely spaced position adjacent the circumference of the drum 50 and remains effective to retain the flatware within the grooves.

The cover 90 is provided with an inlet opening 92 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which extends 180 degrees around the upper end of the drum 50 and in a position for permitting the flatware to enter the longitudinal grooves 60 from the feed belt 30. An outwardly extending semi-circular flange 94 is provided at the opening 92 for guiding bent or tangled flatware which is unable to pass into a groove 60, because of its configuration into a chute 96, later to be described, and which is positioned beneath the bottom of the cover 90 at the opening 92.

Provided at the bottom of the cover 90, or along a longitudinal line which is diametrically opposed to the inlet opening 92, are a plurality of discharge ports 100, 102, 104 and 106 (FIGS. 1 and 2) spaced from each other and being of a length such that the steps 72, 73 and 74 of the side wall 64 lie midway between the longitudinally spaced ends of each of the ports 100, 102 and 104, respectively. It is necessary for sorting articles such as, pieces of flatware, that the length of each discharge port be at least twice the length of the piece of flatware which will be stopped by the step of the corresponding sidewall of the groove, for example, twice the length of the teaspoon T at the step 73 of the groove 60 which is midway between the ends of the discharge port 102 (FIG. 9). In some cases, the ports could be defined by a single longitudinal slot running the length of the cover.

The collecting and orienting apparatus 26 will now be described, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, includes a plurality of conveyors 110, 112, 114, 116 and 118 (FIG. 1), of any desirable length. The conveyor (FIG. 3) includes an endless belt 120, of any suitable flexible material. The flexible belt 120 is trained around a drive roller 122 keyed on a shaft 124, journalled on the frame 20, and an idler roller 126 keyed on a shaft 128, also journalled on the frame 20, at a distance removed from the drum 50 of any desired length. The upper run of the belt 120 between spaced side plates 132 and 134 fastened to the frame 20 by any suitable means (FIGS. 1 and 3).

The drive for the endless belt 120 includes a bevel gear 133 (FIG. 1) keyed on the shaft 124 and meshing with a second bevel gear keyed on a vertical shaft 142, shaft 142 being journalled in bearing blocks 144 fixed to the frame 20, Another bevel gear 146 is keyed on the upper end of the shaft 142 and meshes with a bevel gear 148 keyed on the shaft 88.

The chute 96 will now be described, and as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprises four interconnected downwardly converging walls 150, 152, 154 and 156 which terminate at an opening 158 spaced above the upper run of the belt 120. As aforementioned, the upper end of the chute 96 is positioned to receive tangled or bent flatware unable to pass into a groove 60, which ware is deflected into the chute 96 by the flange 94. The bent or tangled flatware is then carried by the belt 120 outwardly from the drum 50 and is dropped into a trough 160.

The trough 160, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprises a bottom wall 162, a back wall 163 and upstanding side walls 164 and 166. The bottom wall 162 and the side walls 164 and 166 terminate to provide an opening 168 under which a bin or container 170 is placed for catching the tangled and bent flatware.

The conveyor 112 is best shown in FIG. 1, and comprises an endless belt which is trained around a drive roller 182 keyed on the shaft 88 and around an idler roller spaced from the drum 50, not shown. A plurality of appendages in the form of blades 181 extend from the belt 180. The upper run of the belt 180 rides on an inclined L-shaped plate 184 having an upstanding guide rail 136. The soup spoons S, which are discharged onto the belt 180 through the port 100, will be precluded from sliding off the belt 180 by the guide rail 186. The belt 180 carries the soup spoons S to a chute positioned above a trough 192 which guides the spoons S into a container, not shown.

The conveyor 114 is best shown in FIGURE 1, and comprises an endless belt 200, similar to the belt 180, which is trained around a drive roller 202 keyed on the shaft 88 and an idler roller spaced from the drum 50, not shown. A plurality of appendages in the form of blades 201 extend from the belt 200 in a manner similar to the appendages 181 on the belt 180. The upper run of the belt 200 rides on another L-shaped plate 204 having an upstanding guide rail 206. Since the plate 204 is also inclined and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum 50, the teaspoons T which are discharged onto the belt 200 through the port 102 will be precluded from sliding off the belt 200 by the guide rail 206. The belt 200 carries the teaspoons T to a chute 208 positioned above a trough 210 where the spoons T are guided into another container, not shown.

The conveyor 116 is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, and is substantially identical to the conveyors 112 and 114; The conveyor 116 comprises an endless belt 220 trained around a drive roller 222 keyed on the shaft 88 and an idler roller 324 (FIG. 4) spaced from the drum 50, which is keyed on a shaft 226, journalled on the frame 20. A plurality of appendages 221 extend outwardly from the belt 220 in a manner similar to the appendages 181 on the belt 180. The upper run of the belt 220 rides on another L-shaped plate 228 having an upstanding guide rail 23% (FIG. 1). The forks P will be precluded from sliding off the belt 220 by the guide rail 230. The belt 220 carries the forks F to a chute 232 (FIG. 4) having inclined side walls 234 and 236 terminating at their lower ends to define a slot 238. The side walls 234 and 236 are connected to opposed end walls 240 and 242.

The chute 232 is substantially identical to the Previously mentioned chutes 190 and 208 with the exception that the width of the slots in each chute may vary depending on the size of the soup spoons S or teaspoons T, respectively, passing therethrough. The slots in each of the chutes 190, 208 and 232 serve to orient the flatware in a handle down position, since the last part of the flatware to pass through the slots will be the largest portion of the flatware. For example, a fork F dropped into the chute 232 (FIG. 4) from the belt 220 will be guided toward the slot 230 by the inclined walls 234 and 236. The tines of the fork being normally slightly bent will not pass through the slot until after the handle and thus the fork will be dropped through the slot in a handle down position.

A trough 250,-as best shown in FIG. 4, is fastened on the frame 20 beneath the slot 238 for receiving the forks F passing therethrough. The trough 250 is identical to the troughs 192 and 210 and comprises a bottom wall 252, an upstanding side wall 254 and a converging upstanding side wall 256 (FIG. 1). The bottom wall 252 terminates short of the side walls 254 and 256 and spaced from an end wall 258 (FIG. 4) connecting the lower ends of the side walls 254 and 256 to provide an opening under which another bin or container 260 is placed for catching the forks F. It should be noted that the containers and troughs for catching the soup spoons S and the teaspoons T are also identical to the trough 250 and bin 260 for the forks F.

The conveyor 118 is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and comprises an endless belt 270 which is trained around a drive roller 272 keyed on the shaft 88 and around an idler roller 274 keyed on a shaft 275 journalled on the frame 20 spaced from the drum 50 (FIG. 5). A plurality of appendages in the form of blades 276 extend outwardly from the belt 270 in a manner similar to the appendages 18-1 on the belt 188. The upper run of the belt 270 rides on another inclined L-shaped plate 278, having an upstanding guide rail 280 (FIG. 1). The knives K discharged through the port 106 will be precluded from sliding off the belt 270 by the guide rail 280.

A trough 300 is fastened on the frame 20 beneath the conveyor 118 for receiving the knives K passing therethrough. The trough 300 is similar to the previously mentioned troughs 122, 210 and 250, with the exception that it comprises a bottom wall 302 having a diverting plate 301, spaced from the bottom wall 302, and disposed in a position for deflecting the knives K, so that these knives pass beneath the plate 301 in parallel relation to thelower edge of the plate 301. An upstanding pin 304 is positioned slightly below the plate 301 and midway between spaced upstanding side walls 306 and 308 (FIG. 1). The pin 304 serves to deflect the knives K sliding beneath the plate 301 into a handledown position. This is accomplished due to the fact that the handles of the knives K are heavier than the blades. Thus, when a knife K sliding beneath the plate 301, in a position with its longitudinal axis parallel to the lower edge of the plate 301 (FIG. 5), the knife K strikes the pin 304 at its approximate midpoint and pivots into a handle-down position due to the greater movement of inertia of the heavier handle. The side walls 306 and 308 are fastened to upstanding converging side walls 310 and 312 (FIG. 1), which are fastened to closely spaced side walls 311 and 313, respectively, which maintain the knives K in the handle-down positions as they slide down the bottom wall 302 of the trough 300. The bottom wall 302 terminates short of the closely spaced side walls 311 and 313, and

spaced from an end wall 314 (FIG. 5), connecting the lower ends of the side walls 311 and 313. This provides an opening under which another container 316 (FIG. 5) is placed for catching the knives K. It should be noted that the container 316 is identical to the containers for catching the soup spoons S, the teaspoons T and the forks F.

In the operation of the device the drum and drive rollers for the conveyors are all rotating and pieces of flatware such as the soup spoons S, teaspoons T, forks F and knives K are carried on the belt 30 in a substantially single row, and are guided by the bottom wall 44 through the opening 92 in the cover 90, and are deposited individually into the grooves 60 in the drum 50. Although it is contemplated that the pieces of flatware are manually or otherwise singulated as they are placed on the belt 30, should bent pieces of flatware or tangled forks pass through the opening 92 in the cover they will be obstructed from passing within the cover 90' by the semicircular flange 9'4, and will be carried by the groove 60 in the rotating drum 50 to the bottom of the cover 90 over the chute 96. The bent or angled flatware will then pass through the chute 96, onto the belt 120, and slide down the trough 1160 into a container positioned at the terminal end of the trough 160.

Another piece of flatware, such as a tablespoon S, will be presented by the belt 30, through the intake opening 92 in the top of the cover 90, and fed into an empty groove 60, where it will slide therein longitudinally of the drum 5% along the inner wall 62 and the smooth side wall 66 of the groove 60 (FIG. 8), since the drum 50 rotates clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4. The soup spoon S will come to rest abutting the first step 72 of the opposite side wall 64 in the groove 60 (FIG. 8). Since the handle of the soup spoon S is narrower than the bowl portion, it is possible that a soup spoon will abut against the first step 72 with its handle pointed toward the intake opening 92 or toward the lower end of the drum, depending on its position when leaving the belt 30.

As the drum 50 rotates, the soup spoon S will slide on the smooth side wall 66 toward the inner circumference of the cover 90 but will be precluded from losing contact with the step 72 of the opposite side wall 64 by the panel 91 of the cover 90. As the drums rotation continues, the spoon S is carried in the groove 60 to the discharge port 10-0 in the cover 90, and passes out therethrough. Since the discharge port 100 (FIG. 1) is of such a length as to permit passage of the spoon S with the handle in either the upwardly or the downwardly directed longitudinal positions, the spoon S will fall into the chute 190, and pass through the slot in the chute into the trough 192 and come to rest in a container, not shown. As was aforementioned, the slot in the chute is of such a width that the soup spoon S can pass freely therethrough only after the handle portion has first passed. In other words, the bowl portion of the soup spoon S is obstructed by the edges of the slot, and can pass through the slot only when the handle is positioned toward the lower terminal end of the trough 192. This provision orients the spoon S in a handle-down position so that all of the soup spoons S passing through the discharge port 100 are oriented and collected with the handles aligned in the same direction.

Similarly, a teaspoon T which is presented by the feed belt 30, passes through the inlet opening 92 in the cover 90, and on into another empty groove 60 in the drum 50. Since the bowl portion of a teaspoon T is of a width less than the bowl portion of a soup spoon S, the teaspoon T slides freely down the smooth side wall of the groove 60, past the first step 72 and comes to rest with the bowl portion abutting the second step 73 (FIG. 9) of the longitudinal groove 60. As in the case of the soup spoon S, the teaspoon T is carried by the groove 60 in the rotating drum 50, to the discharge port 102 in the bottom of the cover 90, being retained within the groove 60 by the panel 7 93 of the cover 90 (FIG. 9). The spoon T is then discharged into the chute 208 (FIG. 1) wherein it is oriented, also into a handle-down position, and guided by the trough 210 into a container, not shown.

A fork F is supplied by the belt 30 and presented into an empty groove 60 through the inlet opening 92 in the cover 90. Being of a narrower width than either the soup spoon S or the teaspoon T, the fork slides along the smooth side wall 66 and inner wall 62 of the groove 60, past the first step 72, past the second step 73 and comes to rest with either the base or the ends of the tines of the fork F in abutting relation to the third step 74 (FIG. 10) depending on its position when entering the groove. Since a fork F, unlike a soup spoon S or a teaspoon T, may rest on, the inner wall 62 of the longitudinal groove 60, on its edge (as well as fiat), it is necessary that the reduced diameter panel 95 of the cover 90 and the chamfer 81 of the drum 50 cooperate at the location Where the fork would normally abut the step '74 portion of the groove if in a flat position. This restricts the groove so that it is shallower than the width of the fork tines (FIG. 10). Thus, Whether the fork F lies fiat on the inner wall 62 of the groove, or on edge on the inner wall of the groove, or whether the handle of the fork F is directed toward the uper end of the drum 50, or downwardly toward the lower end of the drum 56, the tines of the fork F will be precluded from passing beyond the third step 74, either by the step 74, or the chamfer 81 and panel 95. The fork P will be discharged through the discharge port 104 in the bottom of the cover 90 in a manner similar to the soup spoon S and the teaspoon T. After being discharged it will likewise, be oriented in the chute 232, pass into the trough 250 and be guided into the container 260 with all of the handles pointing in the same direction.

A knife K is supplied by the belt 30, and is admitted through the inlet opening 92 in the cover 90 into another empty longitudinal groove 60. The knife K being of a width less than either the soup spoon S, the teaspoon T or the fork F will pass freely along the inner wall 62 and the side wal 66 of the longitudinal groove 60 passing the first step 72, the second step 73, and the third step 74, coming to rest with the tip of the knife abutting the lower end plate 68 of the groove 60 (FIG. 11). Since the knife K is of a substantially uniform width, it is necessary that it be the last article to be segregated and consequently is stopped by an obstruction which does not diiterentiate between the relative widths of the portions of the knife, namely, the end plate 68. The knife K is retained within the groove 60 during rotation of the drum 50 in a manner like the soup spoon S, teaspoon T, and fork F by the reduced diameter panel 95 of the cover 90. The knife K is discharged through the discharge port 106, against the plate 301 and into the trough 300. The knife K being of a substantially uniform width passes beneath the plate 301 with its longitudinal axis being parallel to the lower edge of the plate 301. As the knife K slides down the trough 300 its strikes the orientor pin 304 approximately midway along its length and, as aforementioned, pivots about the orientor pin into a position with the handle pointing downwardly. The knife is then guided by the converging side walls of the trough and is collected in the bin 316 (FIG. 5) at the terminal end of the bottom wall of the trough in position with the handles similarly aligned.

In one typical embodiment the drum 50 is rotated at a speed of six revolutions per minute and has sixteen grooves around its circumference. Since one piece of fiatware is admitted to a groove once each revolution, the number of pieces which are sorted during one minute will be six times seventeen or ninety-six pieces. The speed of the supplying belt is accordingly set to provide no more than ninety-six pieces per minute and the speeds of the endless belts 120, 180, 200, 220 and 270 are set at six revolutions per minute, although the speeds of the belts 120, 180, 200, 220 and 270 may be varied and are not critical.

A modified form of the flatware collecting apparatus is shown in FIGURE 6, wherein a chute 232a is positioned directly beneath a discharge port 164a in the cover 99a and a trough 253a is positioned directly beneath a slot 238a in the chute 232a thereby eliminating the conveyors. It is understood that this modification applies equally to all of the other collecting apparatus 112, 114, 116 and 118 and is particularly suited where the flatware collecting bins are located relatively close to the rotating drum.

Thus, as can be readily seen, the flatware sorter segregates a large, random assortment of flatware into oriented positions in a plurality of collecting bins. When the bins become filled, they are replaced with an empty bin. Other advantages of the sorter should be readily apparent inasmuch as the structure employed is relatively simple and involves few moving parts, thus, keeping maintenance and initial cost at a minimum. Another advantage is the fact that not only are all of the flatware pieces oriented and collected in separate bins, but an additional bin is provided for collecting bent and tangled flatware, which might otherwise be intermingled with the segregated flatware.

While a preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention has been shown and described, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, that which is believed to be new and for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. A device for sorting a random assortment of articles according to size comprising means for supplying the articles in a single row, an inclined rotatable drum having at least one longitudinal groove positioned for slidably receiving the articles from said supplying means, said groove being provided with a first step for intercepting a portion of the articles of a first size and a second step for intercepting the articles of a size less than said first predetermined size, means positioned for retaining the articles within said groove during rotation of said drum through a first zone and for discharging the articles in a second zone, means positioned for collecting the articles discharged at said second zone, and means for rotating said drum whereby the articles sliding within said groove are separated into at least two portions of different predetermined sizes.

2. Apparatus for sorting articles of different sizes comprising means for supplying the articles in a single row, means positioned for receiving the articles from the supplying means including a rotatable body having at least one longitudinal groove positioned such that the articles are slidable in said groove, step means at a first location in said groove for precluding passage of the articles of a first predetermined size, step means at a second location in said groove for precluding passage of the articles of a second predetermined size, means for rotating said body, means for retaining the articles within said groove during said rotation through a first zone and for discharging the articles during rotation through a second zone, and means positioned for receiving the articles discharged and for collecting them in separate containers depending upon the location in said groove at which the articles were precluded from passing.

3. Apparatus for segregating a random assortment of flatware of different sizes comprising means for supplying the flatware in a single row, a rotatable drum inclined downwardly from said supplying means and having at least one longitudinal groove positioned for slidably receiving the flatware from said supplying means, said groove being defined by an inner wall and a pair of spaced side walls with one of said side walls having stepped projections along the length thereof for blocking passage of flatware of predetermined sizes, a cover circumscribing said drum and positioned in spaced confronting relation to said groove for retaining the flatware within said groove, said cover having an intake opening and a plurality of discharge ports positioned for permitting passage of the flatware into and out of said groove, respectively, means positioned beneath said discharge ports for collecting the flatware discharged therefrom, and means for rotating said drum whereby the random assortment of flatware received in said groove is segregated at said projections and discharged through said ports according to size.

4. Apparatus for sorting articles comprising means for supplying a random assortment of articles in a single spaced row, a rotatable drum mounted at an angle With respect to the horizontal and having at least one longi tudinal groove positioned therein for slidably receiving the articles from said supplying means, cover means circumscribing said drum including a panel of a first diameter such that articles of a first predetermined size sliding down said groove on their edges are intercepted by said panel and articles of a size less than said first predetermined size pass beneath said panel, said cover means also including first and second discharge ports, said first port positioned for discharging the articles intercepted at said panel, said second port positioned for discharging the articles passing beneath said panel, means for rotating said drum whereby the articles in said groove are discharged through said discharge ports, and means for collecting the discharged articles whereby the articles of like sizes are separated and collected together.

5. A device for segregating flatware from a random assortment comprising means for supplying the flatware in a single row, a rotatable drum having at least one longitudinal groove, said groove being defined by an inner wall and spaced side walls with one of said side walls having steps extending in the direction of said other wall whereby the space between said side walls becomes less along the length of said groove, said drum being positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal whereby the articles within said groove slide downwardly therein until they abut one of said steps depending upon the size of the flatware, said drum also having segments of reduced outside diameters whereby the depth of said groove beocmes less at each segment, a retaining member having an upper inlet opening adjacent the uppermost end of said groove and a plurality of lower discharge ports positioned for permitting egress of the flatware into separate collecting means at each of said steps in said groove, said retaining member also including panels of reduced diameters which are juxtaposed in mating relationship with the segments of said drum for maintaining the flatware against the inner wall of said groove as the flatware slides therein, and means for rotating said drum whereby the groove is inverted into a discharge position wherein the flatware is discharged through said ports and into said separate collecting means.

6. The segregating device as defined by claim wherein said separate collecting means includes a plurality of moveable conveyors positioned for receiving the flatware discharged from said ports, chutes positioned for receiving and for orienting the flatware from said conveyors, a plurality of troughs positioned beneath said chutes for receiving the oriented flatware and containers positioned for receiving and for collecting the oriented flatware from said troughs.

7. The segregating device as defined by claim 5 wherein said separate collecting means includes a plurality of chutes positioned for receiving and for orienting the flatware discharged from said ports, troughs positioned for receiving the flatware from said chutes and for delivering the oriented flatware to a plurality of bins wherein the flatware is collected in proper alignment.

8. A device for sorting a random assortment of flatware including soup spoons, teaspoons, forks and knives comprising means for supplying a singulated series of flatware, a rotatable drum positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal and being provided with at least one longitudinal groove positioned for slidably receiving the flatware from said supplying means, said groove having an inner wall, a smooth side wall and an opposite side wall having three steps such that said groove decreases in width along its length, a member spaced closely adjacent to said groove for retaining the flatware within said groove in a first zone, said member being provided with a plurality of spaced ports for discharging the flatware from said groove at a second zone, said first step being positioned for intercepting the soup spoons, said second step being positioned for intercepting the teaspoons downstream of said first step, said third step being positioned for intercepting the forks downstream of said second step, said groove having an end wall positioned for intercepting the knives downstream of said third step, and means for rotating said drum whereby the flatware intercepted is discharged through said ports and means positioned for receiving and for collecting the flatware discharge through said ports.

9. The sorting device defined by claim 8 including means for intercepting and for collecting tangled and bent flatware.

10. The sorting device defined by claim 8 wherein said collecting means includes a plurality of chutes having slots for orienting the spoons and forks, and means for orienting the knives.

11. The sorting device defined by claim 10 wherein said means for orienting the knives includes a trough having an upstanding deflecting pin whereby the knives passing through said trough are deflected by said pin approximately at their mid-points causing the knives to pivot about said pin in handle-first positions.

12. Apparatus for sorting a random assortment of elongated articles having enlarged head portions according to their maximum transverse dimension comprising means for feeding the articles longitudinally in a single row with head portions at either the leading or trailing end of the article, an inclined covered channel of substantially rectangular cross-section positioned for slidably receiving the articles from said feeding means and sloped to enable the articles to slide by gravitational force therein, said channel having a first section with cross sectional dimensions enabling the largest article to be sorted to slide therein and a second section joined in longitudinal alignment with the first section and having cross sectional dimensions that restrict the sliding movement of the largest article to be sorted by engaging the head portion thereof while enabling smaller articles to continue sliding along the channel, said channel having a discharge port adjacent the joint of said first and second sections and means for pivoting articles retained by the second channel section about their head portions longitudinally of the channel to discharge the articles through the port with the head portions aligned at the trailing end of the article.

13. The apparatus described in claim 12 wherein the length of the discharge port is at least twice the length of the article to be discharged and the midpoint of the discharge port is located at the joint of said first and second sections of channel.

14. The apparatus described in claim 12 wherein the first and second channel sections each have an inner wall aligned with the other to maintain a common slope between the sections while the second channel section has two side walls and a cover stepped inward from the corresponding side walls and cover of the first channel section to narrow the width and reduce the height of the channel.

15. Apparatus for sorting flatware, such as knives, forks and spoons, comprising means for feeding the flatware, means slidably receiving the flatware from said feeding means for movement along a predetermined path, first restriction means of a first predetermined Width and depth for stopping movement along said path of certain of the 1 1 12 flatware of a first size, second restriction means of a References Cited Width and depth smaller than said first restriction means for stopping movement along said path of fiatware passing UNITED STATES PATENTS through said first restriction means, and means located at 717,726 1/1903 vi k 209-94 X each of said restriction means for removing the flatware 5 867,276 10/1907 Jenkins 209 94 X from said path, said means slidably receiving the flatware 1,185,770 6/1916 Cody 209 99 includes a rotatable slotted drum and said second restric- 2,303,222 11/1942 Murray v 209-99 X tion means includes reductions in the size of the slots of said drum and a cover circumscribing said drum. ALLEN N KNOWLES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR SORTING A RANDOM ASSORTMENT OF ARTICLES ACCORDING TO SIZE COMPRISING MEANS FOR SUPPLYING THE ARTICLES IN A SINGLE ROW, AN INCLINED ROTATABLE DRUM HAVING AT LEAST ONE LONGITUDINAL GROOVE POSITIONED FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE ARTICLES FROM SAID SUPPLYING MEANS, SAID GROOVE BEING PROVIDED WITH A FIRST STEP FOR INTERCEPTING A PORTION OF THE ARTICLES OF A FIRST SIZE AND A SECOND STEP FOR INTERCEPTING THE ARTICLES OF A SIZE LESS THAN SAID FIRST PREDETERMINED SIZE, MEANS POSITIONED FOR RETAINING THE ARTICLES WITHIN SAID GROOVE DURING ROTATION OF SAID DRUM THROUGH A FIRST ZONE AND FOR DISCHARGING THE ARTICLES IN A SECOND ZONE, MEANS POSITIONED FOR COLLECTING THE ARTICLES DISCHARGED AT SAID SECOND ZONE, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM WHEREBY THE ARTICLES SLIDING WITHIN SAID GROOVE ARE SEPARATED INTO AT LEAST TWO PORTIONS OF DIFFERENT PREDETERMINED SIZES. 